Pray "Lord, Complicate Our Lives!"

Heavenly Father,

Admittedly, we feel closest to You when our prayer life is active and healthy.  Thank You for the ability to communicate with You all made possible through Jesus Christ and the Cross. It's interest that we strive to keep our bodies, the dwelling place of Your Holy Spirit, in good condition.  Yet, Your Spirit is released to be more fruitfully evident when we maintain persistent conversation with You.  I pray that my children will learn to pray hard and to pray through life. When we pray through, You never fail to come through as our wills align. 

 

Lord, thank You for honoring prayers of desperation equally to prayers that just check-in with You.  May we never question that You are always listening and at work for our good. May our prayers be sincere, but bold; audacious and acceptable; tenacious and truth-filled.  Most importantly, may our prayers be a lifeline to You, our source of strength and a sure refuge.  Thank You that prayer habits are to be cultivated and practiced.  The bigger the prayers, the bigger we dream and the harder we are to pray.

 

Forgive us for giving up praying to You when we cannot see tangible differences in our lives. Forgive us for allowing our circumstances to get between You and each of us when we should be putting You between us and our circumstances.  We are slow learners, Father.  When will we 'get it' that prayer is a no-lose proposition and no-lose means win-win! Prayer is a sure fire win-win; everything to gain and nothing to lose.  As Chip and Rebecca continue in job searches and Marc and Alyssa are settling into new positions, I pray they will pray hard and pray through to You.  The more opposition and challenges they face, may they prayer harder and know that You often wait until the very last moment to answer.  Could it be that You already know when we will quit bringing a certain issue to You?  Do You have full knowledge of when we will chicken out or resort to self-sufficiency by force fitting our own way? Yes and Yes! You are God and You know us completely!

 

Help us to grasp that really knowing You and Your heart, Father, is not independence. The goal is to be codependent on You.  It's the only codependent relationship we should allow! Our desire for self-sufficiency is a subtle expression of our sinful nature. Pride creeps in when, too - wanting what we want and when we want it.  All of us wrestle with a desire to get to a place where we don't need God, don't need faith and don't need to pray.  I pray we will each move through that wrestling season quickly. Forgive us for immaturely wanting  You to provide more so we need You less.  Truth is, our greatest need is to know more of You and all other needs come into healthy perspective through our defined relationship. 

 

Lord, keep putting us in situations to stretch our faith.  As our faith stretches, I pray our dreams will stretch, too.  Bigger and bigger dreams will move us closer to You and awaken us further to a personal need for Christ. I have come to realize that Your blessings can complicate life.  It is true! I think about health, education, marriage, careers, family, relationships, building a home, children....on and on....all blessings that complicate.  May we never cease to recognize our need for You. May we trust You enough to pray, "Lord complicate our lives". Because all things are possible with You, we can pray about complications and wait patiently to see Your Glory revealed in growth, nearness and blessing.  Only the one, true, living God could accomplish such miracles and You do it all in love.  Amazing!  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen 

​Do you agree, Family? Do blessings complicate? He trusts us enough to make life complicated and in Him, all things come together.  Beautiful mystery, don't you think?!??

We are so blessed​!!   Always and forever ~

Thanks for Spring! Keep God as top priority!

Heavenly Father,

This morning is a great morning! Thank you for the beauty of Spring and the renewed spirit that bolsters us to get moving - to get busy tidying up after winter, to brighten up and refresh and renew.  I love the new perspective of Springtime and the spirit of perseverance that is reborn in us. 

 

Lord God, Holy Spirit, pour into our children a double portion of perseverance. As Chip and Rebecca are engaged in intense job searches, Marc is soaking up major data everyday in his new work and Alyssa is sorting out her career path, I pray for all of us to have Your powerful motivation to hang on and be faithful.  It is easy to fold and redirect when we don't get what we want or what we think we need and deserve. We often give up too easily and too soon. We quit praying and forget Your promises before the miracle happens.  Father, prayer is about being consistent and waiting for You to make things happen.  I pray that Bob nor I nor our children will forfeit a miracle that You have planned for any of us.  That would deny You Glory and provide a detour from the plans that You already determined for us, individually and as a family. It could possibly provide the means for the evil one to edge into our lives and alter Your plans.  That's what the evil one does, especially in a moment of vulnerability or when are bent on having our own way. Pride is Satan's greatest tool.

 

Because You are good and merciful, full of grace and everlasting kindness, I thank You in advance for the outcomes that are in the making.  May we all be thankful NOW for what is to come. Praise is primary. Praise goes before because You go before us, Lord.  Praise goes before problem and praise goes before an answer is revealed.

 

Lord, forgive us for impatience.  Forgive us for not waiting on You. When it appears You are not answering our prayers right away, we often try to answer them for You. We manipulate or deny what is unfolding. Even when we know You are omniscient,  we think we know more.  Sometimes facts are right before us and we turn a blind eye to truth You have revealed. It's pretty funny, Lord....often we think we are in control. We get overanxious and go into overdrive to take charge to make things happen. All along we shouldn't seek immediate answers as much as we should seek You. We should be praying, praying scripture and prayer journaling; gathering data and soliciting trust prayer partners to stand in the gap for us.  We should be praying individually and together. I think of Daniel and how three times a day he checked in with You to keep communication and direction open. Daniel waited for the miracle and while he waited, he prayed and went about a life of obedience.   I love what Batterson writes, Make sure you pray like everything depends on God. Prayer is the alpha and omega of planning.  Don't just brainstorm - PRAYSTORM! 

 

Top of mind is that You are infinitely - INFINITELY - bigger than our biggest challenge, our biggest problem, our biggest dream.  Bless You Lord that You are bigger than our greatest sin and our greatest weakness.  Nothing is bigger than our God.  Lord, one man said that a low view of You is the cause of a hundred lesser evils, but a high view of You is the solution to ten thousand temporal problems. May we all keep growing closer and closer to You in our prayer life, Father. May we all be intentional about growing spiritually; to keep stretching and going after dreams that are bigger than we are. I pray that we will not close our minds to options and ideas without first filtering every idea through a candid conversation(s) with You. Bless You, Lord that in Your amazing power to carry on, You provide strength to discern and walk through any challenge.  Thank You for taking responsibility off our shoulders and carrying us to Divine destinations.  We love you, Lord and pray all this in the powerful, all-knowing and healing name of Jesus, Amen. 

Always and forever ~​

Pray that God is in All We Do

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for Springtime! The green - the budding and blooming  - the chilly mornings and evidence that renewed life is all around us. Renewal is what You are all about. Thank You - You provided Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary so that we may have guaranteed New Life NOW and throughout Eternity.  It is more than the human mind can grasp....so well-planned from the moment You said 'Let there be light' to this moment and forever - FOREVER! Then knowing that Your Master Plan for the universe includes every individual who calls you Lord & Savior is astounding and, again, more than we can grasp.  We can only say thank You, praise You and bless You, Lord.

 

As my precious children each work through Your plan, I pray they seek Your Will in every endeavor.  That sounds overwhelming, Lord, but it is freeing and comfortable to know that knowing You and living by Your precepts removes all doubt and fear of making wrong choices. In You, every option is an option.  Living for You means every move, every choice and every oppoortunity is of You, by You and for You.  You, alone, can work all things for our good when we are called according to Your purpose. Again, too much to understand, but all possible through our mighty Savior and the supernatural power given to us in the Holy Spirit.  

 

Batterson's words resound to me as I pray them for Bob, Chip and Rebecca, Marc and Alyssa.  May we all :

 

Do the best we can with what we have and where we are.   Success is not circumstantial.  Lord, Your primary concern is who we are becoming. When we pray, "Your Will be done," it's not about being in the right place or making the connection.  It is about being : being available - being the right person right now - being still to seize Your ordained moments of each day - being in the here and now vs. wishing or dreaming about the then and there or about the what ifs, wouldas, couldas, shouldas. Reality is the NOW.

 

Help us maximize our God-given potential.  Potential and purpose is why You made us, God.   Potential and purpose brings You Glory and doesn't point to any individual but to You!  Father, may all of us grow into our God-given giftedness and not force fit life into what we imagine or think we know about ourselves.  There is no way we can preplan what You have in store for us,Lord.  It is almost laughable to think we can orchestrate Your Master Plan when we are not The Master! Our purpose, our task, our calling, our obedience to align with You! 

 

Be most respected by the people who know us best.  May we treat each other well, Lord. We have learned over and over that when the dust settles from a life changing event or a crisis, in carefree and comfortable times; in suffering and sorrow; in celebration and good times, the last ones standing near us are family - faithful, devoted and true. Family, by Your standards, is to love unconditionally, sacrifice and live and speak truth in love; always looking forward to being together.  We are blessed to have one another and I know that this family doesn't give up but prays through any and all circumstances. Family that claims You as the core member, perseveres and consistently waits for miracles to happen.  Family prays big and dreams big for each other.  Family takes risks and knows that we have each other's backs because not taking the risk would mean forfeiting a miracle and denying You Glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen  

 

Dear Ones, enjoy today and give it your all! Expect something to happen and I pray you are open to opportunities, no matter how great or how small. 

 

Always and forever ~

Pray Boldly, Honestly, and Intentionally

Heavenly Father,

On this Sunday after Easter we claim victory over the grave through Jesus' resurrection. We claim His victory to be more than an Easter experience but a daily worship experience, a moment-by-moment prayer experience,  because our Savior lives!  We are bound together as His Body of believers who love our undying Savior with an undying love. It is Your undying love that leads us to love completely and sacrificially. Thank You, Lord.

 

Lord, You know that I am working on further development of my own prayer life.  As all my prayers - yes, ALL! - include my children and Bob, Mom's Prayers are naturally going to  focus on the spiritual discipline of prayer.  Thank You, Lord, for fresh perspectives from Mark Batterson. I am humbled to share them with our family.

 

I pray that all our family will pray boldly. Bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers. God isn't offended by our biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If our prayers are not impossible for us, they are insulting to You. Why? Because then our prayers don't require Your Divine Intervention.  

​I pray that all our family will pray Your promises.  There is nothing You love more than keeping promises, answering prayers, and fulfilling dreams. That is who You are and what You do! May we remain diligent about knowing Your Word, being in worship and Christian community and allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to reign in each of us. I pray we will get over ourselves and get out of Your way so You can direct us, answer prayers and allow us to see Your greater good.

 

I pray that all our family will want to strengthen their prayer lives.  Who we become is determined by HOW we pray. Ultimately, the transcript of our prayers becomes the transcript of our lives. ​Thank You that it is never too late to start praying.  Forgive us for seasons that wax and wane, then flourish in inconsistency with the gift of prayer.

 

​I pray that all our family will learn to be honest in prayers. The greatest tragedy in life is the prayer that goes unanswered because it goes unasked when You are God and know every desire and intention in our hearts and minds.  It is absolutely foolish to think that You don't know our secret plan, agenda or mission when You have designed us with Your purpose and Your plan and Your mission....what is absolutely best suited for us and our heart's ultimate fulfillment.  May we yield to Your Will through our prayer life, Lord God. We pray out of ignorance, but You answer out of omniscience. We pray out of our impotence, but You answer out of Your omnipotence. You have the ability to answer the prayer we should have prayed but lacked the knowledge or ability to even ask.

 

Jesus, in Your Word, You asked "What do you want me to do for you?" May we pray in God-glorifying life goals, seeking Your face and yielding our wills to Your Will. You cannot answer vague prayers and the more faith we have, the more specific our prayers will be.  The more specific our prayers are, the more You receive.  It's all about You, Lord!!!  In Jesus' Name, Amen 

 

Family, let's pray! Now & forever ~

Be an Encourager for Others

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for giving us encouragement.  We are lifted by the Holy Spirit (mighty dunamis!!) - Your Sacred Scriptures - by personal prayer and meditation - by the prayers and support of the saints - by family and friends and, sometimes, even strangers.  You have given each of us creative abilities so that in Christ we are capable, competent and qualified to be all that You created us to be.  Even in our weaknesses, Your grace is sufficient. Your power rests upon us to resist feelings and thoughts of rejection because we are accepted, loved and favored by You - the Most High God.

No matter how hard we try to be consistently upbeat and positive, there are down days.   Still You provide rescue from the slimy pit of the downcast.  Thank You for prompting us to help others feel good about themselves, as well.  Serving others in positive, selfless ways means praising, supporting and sharing one another's burdens.

I give You thanks and praise for the gift of encouragement and think of my most loved ones:

Encouraging Marc in his new job! A whole new lifestyle with terrific potential and position,

Encouraging Chip in is ongoing recovery and the process of the job search and now as a Reeves mentor,

Encouraging Rebecca in her job search and in the final weeks of study, for remaining healthy and injury free,

Encouraging Alyssa now training others with service skills and taking on new leadership responsibilities,

Encouraging Bob to pursue medical counsel for his progressing neuropathy, in his business ventures and for

both of us in short-term/long-term planning.....encouraging one another to be all that we can be and to enjoy

ourselves along the way. 

Lord, You have been so faithful to our little family - always true.  We aspire to be faithful to You and obedient to Your Will and Way as we encourage and accept the beautiful gift of encouragement from others. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen

But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.
⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”   - Isaiah 43:1-7

Change is Like a Slinky by Hans Finzel

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Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. – George Adams

​

Robert Fulton was utterly discouraged with his invention of the steamboat. The public had scoffed him and said it would never work. Fulton was about to give into this verdict when a man boarded his boat and asked if he could take him to New York in it.  Fulton said he would try – for $6. That man became the first person in history to pay for a trip on a steamboat. This act of encouragement so buoyed Fulton that four years later, when he met this first passenger again, he told him “The vivid emotions caused by your paying me that first passage money will always be remembered. That, sir, seemed the turning point in my destiny – the dividing line between light and darkness – the first actual recognition of my usefulness from my fellowmen.”

​

Henry Ford said, “The ability to encourage others is one of life’s finest assets”  He knew for he had been the target of severe criticism and ridicule when he invented the gasoline engine for the automobile. Most mechanical engineers were convinced electric carriages were the cars of the future. Thomas Edison heard his plan, however, and with one sentence of encouragement he changed history. He said to Ford, “Young man, you have a self-contained unit carrying its own fuel. Keep at it!!”  That was all Ford needed to motivate him to press on and perfect his engine.

​

Maurice "Mo" Cheeks has enjoyed a long and successful career as a player and coach in the National Basketball Association. But in my opinion, his greatest moment in basketball had nothing to do with the action on the court. On this day in 2003, 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert began singing the national anthem in front of the Portland Trail Blazers' home crowd -- as well as a national TV audience. Shortly into the song, she jumbled some words, and then she froze. Panicking, she held the microphone to her forehead, as if searching her brain for the right words. But just as she was about to give up (and look for the proverbial hole to crawl in), "Mo" Cheeks stepped to her side and began singing the song with her, helping her hold the microphone in place. Urging the crowd to join in, he stayed with her the whole way, his off-key voice shadowing hers in sweet duet. It sounded awful, but it was beautiful. And you could see (and hear) Natalie's confidence grow stronger with every line. "He totally saved me," Natalie told an interviewer. "I was walking off afterward, and he said, ‘Don't worry, kid -- everyone has a bad game once in a while.'

​ 

Dear Ones, the gift of being an encourager is a spiritual gift from God: the gift of exhortation.  I am quite certain that this gift is within our family. Others of us are learning how to be better encouragers and how to receive the gift, too.  It's a powerfully beautiful exchange of a specific love language, as well as the model of spoken blessing from The Bible. We humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and He has promised to lift us up (James 4:10).  Our God encourages us! How blessed we are to have our own personal cheering squad - Father, Mother, sisters and brothers and into the extended family! Today I say, thank You, Dear Lord for giving us one another; this beautiful family who knows the value of walking in Your light and sharing Your light with others.  

Always and forever ~ Mom  

Prayer for Purpose-Filled Work

Heavenly Father,

 

Lord God, help my children to have the ability to assess people and situations. May they be sensitive to the needs of others; performing duties with a spirit of excellence so as to be blessings to others,  as well as effective leaders. May they be consistent, fruitful workers.  If they make a mistake, may they be open, honest and forthright.  May they be quick to forgive and even quicker to ask forgiveness in error.   I pray for a high level of commitment to their work. Father, as Marc begins a new position and soon Chip and Rebecca will, too, I pray for fulfilling, meaningful life work. I pray for Alyssa as she continues to be a stable, productive employee.  With all their energies, help these dear ones to be productive and purpose-filled people with a Kingdom mindedness that points to You and lives for You, Lord.

 

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,  and he will establish your plans.  Proverbs 16:3

 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.-

Romans 12:17-18

 

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

 

Do your best, not because your work is worth it, but because you are.  - unknown

God regards not the greatness of the work but the love which prompts it. - The Practice of the Presence of God,  Brother Lawrence

The definition of work is: doing by the grace of God what He has called us to do by the power of the Holy Spirit . Works is: doing by one's own strength and ability (the flesh) what we want to do.  It is the opposite of grace and what men see. The “s” on works stands for ‘show’.  Dr I V Hilliard

We learn that true fulfillment is partnering with God and being pleasing to Him. Marc, we are so proud of your new work opportunity; a true career that promises a life change for good.  God is so gracious to provide friends and networking to bring about huge opportunities.  We are truly blessed.  I know Alyssa continues to work very hard to refine her skills, too.  That's why she is recognized as a leader and is training others to serve and practice excellence.  Chip and Rebecca, the doors are soon to open for the two of you. I am confident that behind those doors are God-given options to be productive, resourceful and to sweeter life for you and others, too.  God is already at work preparing the way for each of you. I pray you will align your Will with His Will and know incredible contentment and saisfaction in you work.  

He is able to do exceeding abundantly more, my sweet children. Count on Him!!

Forever and always ~

 

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.  - Theodore Roosevelt

Give us fresh Ideals and new Attitudes!

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for instructing us and teach us in the way we should go. I pray that there be a deep, sure confidence in my children and in me that You truly are guiding us. I pray that our sweet, small family refuses to be conformed to this world and this age. I pray that we each submit to being changed - transformed - by the renewing of our minds.

Give us fresh ideals and new attitudes Lord....all pleasing to You.   

​It is an exciting time, Lord. Chip and Rebecca are actively seeking jobs of Kingdom-worth and purpose.  Marc and Alyssa have established skills that that serve You, others and themselves  in the service industry. Bob and I are face-to-face with a new season of life. Are we slowing down? Not so much, Lord. What's that all about??!

 

We are all preparing for next steps and see our pathways growing brighter and brighter.  As we follow you may our paths become clearer each day. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for wisdom, discernment and counsel. You have provided much fruit for us to carry on: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  May we all learn not to lean on our own understanding; but, to acknowledge You in all our ways for Your will leads to the path of life.  We trust You. We love You. We believe that You will make a way for each of us, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen

 

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;  I will counsel you with my loving eye on you

​Romans 12: 2  ​

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

I have to remind myself that joy and freedom always lie in obedience. Each of the sacrifices ultimately results in my own good. There are some acts of so called freedom that destroy freedom.

​  ​

Obedience to God always brings reward. Our ability to hear His voice begins when we reverence Him through simple obedience 

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-He Speaks To Me, Priscilla Shirer

Sometimes we wonder if we are doing what is right. But we can easily eliminate that dilemma by obeying God. God will never command us to do wrong. God will never command us to do something that violates His Word. There are a lot of decisions that could be made easier if we would just pay attention to what God says in His Word. – Billy Graham

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I have been driven many times upon my kness by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.  - Abraham Lincoln

 

​I recently read that Mother Teresa handed out a little card and said, "This is my business card." The card was printed by a Hindu friend who supported her work. The card read: 

The fruit of Silence is Prayer.

The fruit of Prayer is Faith.

The fruit of Faith is Love.

The fruit of Love is Service.

The fruit of Service is Peace.

Yes, every Mom prays that her children and loved ones,  know a life of prayer, faith, love, service and peace.  This is my prayer for each of you: forever and always ~